Burnley are already looking at successors for the Bayern Munich-bound Vincent Kompany with Switzerland legend Raphael Wicky in contention to take over at the Championship side.
EXCLUSIVE via Graeme Bailey
HITC understands that, with the man who took them to the Premier League in the first place on the verge of being confirmed as Bayern Munich’s new head coach, a Burnley side hoping to return to the top-flight again in 2025 are wasting no time in pursuit of a replacement.
Owner Alan Pace is keen to utilise an analytical approach in The Clarets’ manager search. As such, Burnley may be unlikely to plump for the biggest and most high-profile names on the market, and instead cast their net a little further as they look for a coach capable of emulating Kompany’s success in England’s second-tier.
And HITC have been told that Raphael Wicky is one name Burnley are looking at.
Burnley eye former BSC Young Boys manager Raphael Wicky
Capped 75 times by Switzerland in his playing career, the former Hamburg, Werder Bremen and Atletico Madrid midfielder is now carving out quite the reputation for himself off the pitch.
Wicky begun his managerial career with FC Basel in 2017 and almost immediately won a league and cup double. He would then repeat the trick with BSC Young Boys in 2022/23.
Wicky was, however, rather bizarrely sacked by Young Boys in March despite the club being top of the Swiss Super League at the time, sporting director Christoph Spycher insisting that the team needed ‘fresh energy‘ following three successive defeats.
Young Boys would, at least, go on to claim the title under Wicky’s successor Joel Magnin, finishing 15 points clear of Lugano.
Wicky posted a win rate of over 55 per cent at both Basel and Young Boys. His time in the USA with Chicago Fire between December 2019 and September 2021 was, however, far less successful. Wicky won only 12 games, and was fired after Chicago Fire missed out on the MLS play-offs.
Wicky once defeated Jose Mourinho‘s Manchester United and Pep Guardiola’s Man City in the same Champions League campaign in the Basel dugout. He also enjoyed a lot of success at Young Boys with his possession-heavy, diamond 4-4-2 system.
Wicky’s teams tend to score a lot of goals, sling in a lot of crosses, and press very high.
“My Champions League year with Basel, we had eight games, and five victories,” Wicky recalled, speaking to Hot Time in Old Town back in 2020.
“I was very lucky and fortunate to coach against both teams in Manchester that season, and actually we beat them both. We beat Man United at home, and we beat Man City in Man City. Those were very special moments because obviously (Guardiola) and Mourinho are two of the most famous and successful managers in the world.
“Great memories.”
Wicky can emulate Vincent Kompany’s style at Turf Moor
Wicky might not have been able to emulate his Basel and Young Boys success in the USA, but the style of play he brought across the Atlantic still earned him plenty of admirers. It should also suit a Burnley side who cruised to the Championship title in 2023 while dominating the ball and averaging the most possession in the league.
“(Chicago Fire) are a team that’s playing a lot better than their point total. They’ve been on the unlucky side of a lot of results. Their coach, Rapha Wicky, does a great job of getting them to play the right way,” Jim Curtin, the head coach of MLS rivals Philadelphia Union, said.
“They’re very good in possession with the ball. They create a lot of chances. They’re organized defensively, and they press well together as a team. We recognise we’ll have our hands full.
“Rapha is a great coach, and he’s a great person. Trust me, I’m Philadelphia Union always, first and foremost, but I do have my eye on Chicago, a club that I spent a lot of years at. He has it going in the right direction, which is good to see from afar.”
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